URC :: Spirituality

Online quiet day on the Feast of the Visitation, led by Mark Argent

It’s often worth building a quiet day around the lectionary readings and seeing what emerges. For 31 May, these are 1 Samuel 2:1–10, Psalm 113, Romans 12:9–16b and Luke 1:39–57 — the last of these telling the story of Mary’s visit to Elizabeth soon after Mary becomes pregnant with Jesus.

The feasts of the Annunciation and the Visitation have an unusual relationship to the church year. The Annunciation, marking the moment when Mary becomes pregnant, is on 25 March, to be nine months before his birth. The Visitation, on 31 May is a helpful distance between that and the feast of the birth of John the Baptist. Because neither festival takes account of the moving date of Easter, they create some interesting interplays: what is it to be thinking of the Annunciation when the lectionary is heading into Holy Week? Or (as now) the Visitation towards the end of the liturgical season of Easter?

In this quiet day, we’ll see where the readings lead us. The gospel takes us in one direction. What do the other readings offer? How do they connect with the journey of Easter? What is God inviting us to hear?

Readings

1 Samuel 2:1-10

1 Hannah prayed and said, “My heart exults in the LORD; my strength is exalted in my God. My mouth derides my enemies because I rejoice in your victory.

2 There is no Holy One like the LORD, no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.

3 Talk no more so very proudly; let not arrogance come from your mouth, for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.

4 The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble gird on strength.

5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry are fat with spoil. The barren has borne seven, but she who has many children is forlorn.

6 The LORD kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up.

7 The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low; he also exalts.

8 He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and on them he has set the world.

9 He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked will perish in darkness, for not by might does one prevail.

10 The LORD! His adversaries will be shattered; the Most High will thunder in heaven. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king and exalt the power of his anointed.”

Psalm 113

1 Praise the LORD! Praise, O servants of the LORD; praise the name of the LORD.

2 Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time on and forevermore.

3 From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the LORD is to be praised.

4 The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.

5 Who is like the LORD our God, who is seated on high,

6 who looks far down on the heavens and the earth?

7 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap,

8 to make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people.

9 He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the LORD!

Romans 12:9-16b

9 Let love be genuine; hate what is evil; hold fast to what is good;

10 Love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor.

11 Do not lag in zeal; be ardent in spirit; serve the Lord.

12 Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction, persevere in prayer.

13 Contribute to the needs of the saints; pursue hospitality to strangers.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.

15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.

16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be arrogant, but associate with the lowly;

Luke 1:39-57

39 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country,

40 where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.

41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit

42 and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.

43 And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me?

44 For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy.

45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”

46 And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord,

47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

48 for he has looked with favor on the lowly state of his servant. Surely from now on all generations will call me blessed,

49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name;

50 Indeed, his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.

51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones and lifted up the lowly;

53 he has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty.

54 He has come to the aid of his child Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,

55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

56 And Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.

57 Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son.

Timetable

We’re adapting the timetable as we go, so the timings of sessions will be added here during the day. This is so that, if someone wants to spend more time with something and misses the next time we come together, they can re-join later in the day.